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SCRUTINY | COC President’s Council Season Opener Showcases New Voices

 

COC President’s Council Season Opening Event (Photo: Joseph So)

Jane Archibald, sop.; Simone McIntosh, mezzo; Samuel Chan, bar.; Rachael Kerr, piano; Liz Upchurch, piano. Isadore and Rosalie Sharp City Room, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto. Sept. 13, 2017. 

It’s that time of year again! For loyal followers of the Canadian Opera Company, September is an exciting time. Even before opening night, devoted supporters of the Company (President’s Council, Golden Circle, Life Trustees and Opera Club members) are invited to a soiree where, over drinks and hors d’oeuvres, they get to hear the new artists joining the Ensemble Studio for the new season. I for one always look forward to these events, to greet old friends and make new ones, and of course to compare notes on opera performances experienced over the summer, and what to look forward to in the coming season.

This event used to take place at the Courtyard of the COC Headquarters on Front Street, but it has since moved to the lobby of the new opera house—the Isadore and Rosalie Sharp City Room of the Four Seasons Centre. While I miss the garden party atmosphere of yore, it’s nice to have foolproof weather conditions! The Ensemble Studio “newbies” this season are mezzo Simone McIntosh, baritone Samuel Chan, and pianist Rachael Kerr. McIntosh hails from B.C., Chan from Calgary, and Kerr from Michigan. What they have in common is a surfeit of innate talent, solid training and musicality, all essential ingredients for future success.

I’m familiar with McIntosh and Chan—both sang superbly and were deserved winners of last year’s Centre Stage Competition. I also recall hearing McIntosh and Kerr from the 2016 Toronto Summer Music Art of Song program. As is typical of these events, COC General Director Alexander Neef kicked off the proceedings by welcoming all attendees. When he mentioned that the new season is his tenth at the helm, there was spontaneous applause. I think Toronto opera fans would agree with me that his tenure here has significantly raised the artistic bar—and the international stature—of the COC.

The musical program was relatively short. McIntosh started with Urbain’s aria, “Nobles seigneurs, salut!” from the rarely performed Les Huguenots, although this aria, sung by a trouser role, is many a mezzo’s favourite. Looking fabulous in a black outfit, McIntosh sang with gleaming tone. Hers is a high mezzo bordering on soprano, with an easy top and excellent flexibility. With further seasoning, I can easily see her as Octavian and Komponist. Her second aria was Erika’s “Must the winter come so soon?” from Samuel Barber’s Vanessa, a real chestnut of an English language piece. Dramatically more inward than Urbain’s little ditty, McIntosh showed the requisite emotional depth in her delivery.

For his first aria, Chan chose Harlequin’s arioso “Lieben, Hassen, Hoffen, Zagen” from Ariadne auf Naxos. This is Richard Strauss’s gift to the lyric baritone—short, technically not too demanding, but with a lovely, sweet, lilting melody that lingers. Chan’s modest-sized, naturally produced, forwardly placed, attractive light baritone is ideal in this piece and he sang it well. The same was true with his second aria, “Questo amor, vergogna mia” from a Puccini rarity, Edgar—nothing too heavy or too dramatic, ideal for showing off a fresh, youthful voice.

Then the two soloists joined forces for “Il core vi dono,” the Dorabella-Guglielmo duet from Cosi fan tutte, one of those cute, frothy pieces that makes this opera so endearing to Mozart aficionados. Through it all, Rachael Kerr offered solid support. It should be noted that none of these five selections offers the pianist much chance to shine technically, but within these parameters, Kerr played well. Also, the piano used wasn’t the Steinway grand normally used in recitals at FSC but a less impressive 5’ 8” baby grand. I was sitting at an angle and couldn’t read clearly, but it looked like a Yamaha—nothing terrible but it could have been better.

Now, for the surprise!  It has been a bit of a tradition in these events to have a mystery guest, usually a leading artist currently in town for one of the productions. It turned out to be Canadian soprano Jane Archibald, here to make her role debut as Zdenka in Arabella. As the COC’s first-ever Artist-In-Residence, she’s starring in three of the six shows this season. The other two are Konstanze—her signature role, and another first, the Nightingale in the Stravinsky opera. At one time, Archibald was an exclusive lyric-coloratura, but she has been transitioning to a broader repertoire that includes more dramatic roles, such as the Donna Anna she sang here two seasons ago, while maintaining her core rep such as Zerbinetta and Olympia.

When I saw her Adele in Die Fledermaus at the Santa Fe Opera this past summer, she mentioned that she was retiring Adele the maid and tackling the mistress of the house, Rosalinda, in the future. Well, she made good on her promise! With the Ensemble Studio head Liz Upchurch at the piano, Archibald treated the audience to a sassy and fun rendition of that showstopper, “Klänge der Heimat” or better known as the Csardas. Her clear, crystalline tone was a pleasure. If the lower register wasn’t ideally full or powerful, the top was marvelous, complete with a terrific trill and sparkling runs, all the way up to a strong high C-sharp at the end. That brought a roar of approval from the appreciative audience, many of whom lingered long afterwards, enjoying the balmy September evening.

The Canadian Opera Company 2017-18 season opens with Richard Strauss’s Arabella on October 5, 2017. For more information, visit here.  

For more REVIEWS, click HERE.

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Core77 Weekly Roundup (5-19-25 to 5-23-25)

Here’s what we looked at this week:

The quest to optimize existing objects: The EDJY features an unusual single-blade fingernail clipper design that allegedly delivers better results.

Apple’s “Vehicle Motion Cues” are an on-screen anti-motion-sickness trick.

From Australia, magnetic and custom-fit sun shades for your car.

The Otemon splice: A crazy Japanese technique for splicing the bottom of a rotted column.

Image and work: Chris Hall

Stunning Frank Lloyd Wright art tiles by Motawi Tileworks.

A glow-in-the-dark substitute for EDC gear: These Isotope Tritium Fobs rely on actual radioactive isotopes.

Philips’ Fixables initiative will offer free downloadable files to 3d print replacement parts for their products.

Dutch researchers develop “countersnapping,” the opposite of a push-to-open mechanism.

An industrial design classic: The Brionvega Algol TV, by Marco Zanuso and Richard Sapper.

Good or bad? The Trace camera system records entire sporting matches, but highlights just your child.

From Latvia, Kanttari’s bronze bar cabinet.

This Solo Windchill 47 Cooler has a built-in air conditioner. Because heaven forbid you break a sweat outside.

The Loki cleaning robot, here to end janitors.

A new umbrella shape from Japan (for an entirely frivolous purpose).

Growl: An AR punching bag for training and gaming.

Design solutions for beachside umbrella-wind wars, and one man vs. nature.

Form follows function: Dyson’s new approach yields the super slim PencilVac.

An industrial design case study from Germany: Fluid Design updates Beurer’s grooming devices.

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memoria home medical device and necklace help people with alzheimer’s remember

home medical devices for people with Alzheimer’s

 

Futurewave designs Memoria, an AI home medical device with a bracelet or necklace that helps people with Alzheimer’s remember. It’s a two-part collection. The first one has a sculptural base station with a large, circular AMOLED screen. The display projects photos, videos, memory prompts, names, and time so the users can recall who they are or what they’re about. There’s also a discreet wearable. It’s either a bracelet or a necklace. First, users place the smart chips around the house. Then, the wearable device interacts with these chips, giving the user real-time haptic cues and voice feedback to tell them that someone, or something in this case, is with them at all times.

 

The screen of the sculptural base station appears semi-translucent, similar to the ‘privacy’ protectors for smartphones. It helps flash the images and videos vividly, especially when placed in a sunny room. The typeface used is sans-serif, and the font size is large to immediately show the projections to the users. The design resembles a desk fan, and the bottom of the base station can double as a speaker, too. For the wearable, it looks like a small computer mouse. It has a textured skin for the haptic feedback. There’s also a small slot for the speaker. So far, Futurewave’s home medical device and wearable for people with Alzheimer’s is still a concept project.

all images courtesy of Futurewave

 

 

AI lends a hand to Futurewave’s memoria 

 

The Futurewave team says that the display of the sculptural base station is AMOLED. It allows for soft visuals and adaptive brightness. The wearable features low-energy Bluetooth as well as NFC capability. These let the device interact with the smart chips installed around the house. Both devices are powered by AI, letting them learn routines, recognize patterns, and adapt prompts to the user’s emotional and cognitive needs. They’re not fully reliant on technology. The home medical devices for people with Alzheimer’s also support outdoor safety and remote caregiver monitoring. In this way, a human can take care of the users even from afar.

 

The design team says they plan to produce the home medical devices for people with Alzheimer’s using recyclable materials. They haven’t identified yet which ones. They’re in collaboration with healthcare experts and caregivers to develop the gadgets. The team adds that their purpose is to support memory recall gently, not by correcting the users, but by guiding them through moments of disorientation with warmth and respect. With this, Memoria is a series of home medical devices for people with early stages of Alzheimer’s, helping them stay connected to their present, memories, routines, and even loved ones.

the display projects photos, videos, memory prompts, names, and time

the sculptural base station has a large, circular AMOLED screen

the wearable device interacts with these chips, giving the user real-time haptic cues and voice feedback

so far, Futurewave’s Memoria is still a concept project

detailed view of the sculptural base station

 

project info:

 

name: Memoria

design: Futurewave | @futurewave_design

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ADEPT to transform german warehouse into ‘haus der musik’ with sculpted new facade

haus der music: a new venue for braunschweig, germany

 

Haus der Musik, a competition-winning entry by ADEPT by is set to transform the bones of an existing Karstadt warehouse in in Braunschweig, Germany. The concept preserves the building’s load-bearing structure and spatial rhythm, shifting its purpose from retail to resonance and introducing a sculptural new facade. ADEPT has used the building’s existing framework as a canvas for a concert hall and music school, creating what Martin Krogh, founding partner, calls ‘a dream project — not just because of its scale, but because it allows us to bring together everything we care about: transformation, sustainability, as well as social and urban social value.’

 

The project centers around what the architects describe as a ‘third place’ — a porous, hybrid space that binds the music school, performance areas, and informal gathering zones. This non-linear terrain opens opportunities for spontaneous interaction and shared ownership. ‘It’s a space that grows identity from within,’ says Krogh, underscoring the studio’s belief in socially driven architecture.

ADEPT will transform a former warehouse in Braunschweig into a cultural venue | images © Aesthetica Studio

 

 

adept plans for Sound Above and Life Below

 

With its Haus der Musik, the architects at ADEPT situates the concert hall along the building’s upper levels, allowing the preserved lower structure to anchor the music school and flexible event spaces like the Klangkeller. Designed in the shoebox tradition, the hall is outfitted with sound-reflective surfaces and dynamic ceiling elements that adjust acoustics to suit a range of performances. From balcony to floor, the experience is acoustically intimate and spatially direct, supported by adjacent rehearsal rooms and a panoramic terrace that connects concertgoers to the cityscape.

 

The upcoming project occupies a strategic site in Braunschweig, bridging the Altstadtmarkt and Kohlmarkt squares. By opening the ground level with transparent facades and terraces, the building becomes a point of entry, not only to music but to civic life. Its stepped massing and softened outline allow it to participate in the historical city’s silhouette while introducing new public rhythms.

 

The jury says: ‘The winning proposal transforms the existing building through adaptive reuse into an important component for Braunschweig’s city centre, as well as for the city’s musical landscape.’

the project preserves the original structure while bringing new public and performance spaces

 

 

layers of light and modular texture

 

The proposal reinterprets the original building’s facade into a layered expression of light and modular texture. Maintaining the structural cadence of the old Karstadt store, the design transforms it with sculptural depth and tactile detail. This gesture aligns the building with Braunschweig’s historic material palette while giving it a contemporary public identity. The interplay of solids and voids gestures inward and outward, animating both street and interior.

 

Timber is adopted for the interiors, inviting warmth into a space historically defined by commerce. The new volume atop the building sets back from the original cornice line, letting light reach the street and maintaining visual continuity with neighboring buildings. Material choices balance resilience with resonance, merging tactile appeal with performance-oriented design.

 

ADEPT treats the existing building as a resource, conserving its core structure and foundations. A new concert hall in steel and timber is placed with surgical care above the retained elements. CLT components accelerate construction while reducing emissions, and minimal site intervention further limits environmental impact.

an intimate concert hall is positioned on the upper levels and designed with acoustic precision

a sculptural new facade reinterprets the original rhythm | existing structure

 

 

project info:

 

name: Haus Der Musik (House of Music)

architect: ADEPT | @adeptarchitects

location: Braunschweig, Germany

area: 15,000 square meters + 3,000 square meters underground

visualizations: © Aesthetica Studio | @aesthetica_studio

 

client: Friedrich Georg Knapp w. Stadt Braunschweig

engineers: Assmann Beraten und Planen, Corall Ingenieure, Avissplan

collaborators: Assmann Beraten und Planen, Corall Ingenieure, Avissplan

team: Martin Krogh, Martin Laursen, Anders Lonka, Simon Poulsen, Tatyana Eneva, Athanasia Tatli, Tanja Jauernig, Philipp Macke, Guido Roth, Paul Lieser, Lilit Raudonat

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snarkitecture sculpts creamy contours into canyon-like athens burger spot

seating grows from the floor in Snarkitecture’s burger spot

 

Snarkitecture transforms an abandoned storage plot in central Athens into One Burger, a newly opened, sculptural burger spot that feels like an urban installation. Nestled within the Greek city’s historic triangle, the 80-square-meter intervention wraps rugged stone party walls with smooth, cream-toned contours. 

 

The team preserves the lot’s raw stone envelope, contrasting it with precision-milled curves that rise and fold like eroded terrain or a 3D model rendered in real life. Benches, stepped platforms, and alcoves grow directly from the pale floor, forming a canyon-like landscape. 

 

The benches sit within the topographic layers that flank three sides of the site. These custom-fabricated layers are finished in cream-colored concrete, each integrated with upholstered cushions for comfort. Oak tables with organic forms nest into the contours like natural boulders, their solid wood tops resting on powder-coated metal bases.

images via @snarkitecture, unless stated otherwise

 

 

sculptural canopy tops organic one burger interior in athens

 

Above, Snarchitecture’s bespoke canopy slices across the sky, casting soft shadows and introducing rhythm to the layered groundscape. This perforated structure provides shade and anchors the space with its sculptural frame.

The design embraces the canyon-like feel of the narrow lot, situated between two tall buildings. After testing three to four initial approaches, the team leaned into this spatial character, translating it into a curving seating landscape inspired by eroded terrain. A restrained palette of natural and neutral materials—concrete, sealed oak, and powder-coated metal—was chosen to let the brand’s signature red pop against the backdrop.

 

The team proposes a prototype for civic dining, a spatial response to a deceptively simple question: what if a burger could bring people together across the planet? In this redefined terrain, eating becomes an experience of encounter, and fast food becomes a reason to slow down. For the New York-based design practice, known for their playful manipulations of form, the project extends their tactile minimalism into new territory. They describe the result as a kind of urban refuge, an immersive space that offers a moment of pause from the hustle and bustle of Athens.

Snarchitecture’s bespoke canopy slices across the sky

benches, stepped platforms, and alcoves grow directly from the pale floor

precision-milled curves rise and fold like eroded terrain

cream-toned contours climb on rugged stone party walls | image via @oneburgerworldwide

a canyon-like landscape | image via @oneburgerworldwide

an abandoned storage plot in central Athens becomes One Burger | image via @sotiriskaberis by @shooterio

eating becomes an experience of encounter | image via @sotiriskaberis by @shooterio

the project extends Snarchitecture’s tactile minimalism into new territory | image via @julian_daynov

 

 

project info:

 

name: One Burger | @oneburgerworldwide

architect: Snarkitecture | @snarkitecture

location: Athens, Greece

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BMW concept speedtop with moonstone seats debuts at concorso d’eleganza in lake como

BMW unveils concept speedtop in lake como

 

The BMW Concept Speedtop debuts at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Lake Como, Italy, with its moonstone white seats. Inside the concept car, it’s a two-tone world. First, the Moonstone White for the chairs. Then, the Sundown Maroon for the rest: the steering wheel, the dashboard, and even the central console. This shade of maroon extends to the outside. It’s not per se the same shade because it’s glossy, rightfully named Floating Sunstone Maroon. This is BMW’s way to connect the inside and the outside for the Concept Speedtop unveiled in Lake Como. The exterior’s roof spline, or the line that runs along the top of the ceiling, is the same design inside the vehicle.

 

But in the cabin, that spline appears as a beam of light. When passengers look up, they see a light strip running through the center of the roof, the very same curved design seen on the outside. It’s another attempt by the design team to link the interior with the exterior. In the trunk, the two-tone color continues. It is covered in leather, and there’s underlighting hidden to illuminate the entire luggage compartment. There’s a trick here: the trunk is divided into two sections. For more space, users have to pull up the first layer, and there, they see extra storage for more items and multi-day tours. This is the brainchild of the BMW Group plant team in Dingolfing.

all images courtesy of BMW

 

 

Vehicle with made-to-measure duffel bags

 

There are two more storage areas with leather straps behind the seats. Here, the users find a small token from the car company. They’re two pieces of made-to-measure duffel bags from the brand Schedoni. The Italian manufacturer is also responsible for the leather materials throughout the BMW Concept Speedtop unveiled in Lake Como. Because the bags are tailored to the car, their colors also match the interior’s shades. Coming out of the vehicle, the front end has a pronounced V shape with its shark-nose design, slim front lights, and illuminated kidney grille.

 

The vehicle features an athletic design too, thanks to its broad shoulders and 14-spoke wheels. The company says that the BMW Concept Speedtop unveiled in Lake Como is reminiscent of the sporty tourers. It’s more ideal for two people, who want to leave the city for the weekend. Specs fans may appreciate that the V8 engine installed in the vehicle, one that’s currently offered by the company. At the present time, only 70 units of the car will come out after the event. It’s 20 more models after the reveal of the BMW Concept Skytop in 2024 with 50 units.

rear view of the BMW Concept Speedtop

the BMW Concept Speedtop debuts at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Lake Como

the exterior’s roof spline, or the line that runs along the top of the ceiling, is the same design as inside the vehicle

Floating Sunstone Maroon is the name for the glossy shade of the exterior

it’s a two-tone world inside the vehicle

Moonstone White for the palette of the chairs

for the rest of the cabin’s colors, it’s the Sundown Maroon

even the center console has the shade of the Sundown Maroon

the trunk has two sections, following the two-tone theme of the concept vehicle

there are 70 units available after the debut in Lake Como

 

project info:

 

name: Concept Speedtop

company: BMW | @bmw

leather: Schedoni | @schedoni_heritage

event: Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este | @concorsodeleganza_vde

location: Via Regina, 40 22012 Cernobbio, Como, Italy

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cantilevered planes of QBO3 arquitectos’ casa yume frame tropical views in costa rica

casa yume perches above costa rica’s coastline

 

Casa Yume by QBO3 Arquitectos is a residential project located in the Papagayo Peninsula of Costa Rica, designed to harmonize modern architectural expression with the dramatic natural beauty of its site. As part of the broader context of high-end developments in this pristine coastal region, Casa Yume stands out for its bold geometries, refined spatial composition, and a deep sensitivity to its surroundings. The house embodies an architectural narrative that draws from the terrain and topography while embracing expansive views of the Pacific Ocean.

 

It is positioned on a sloped plot overlooking the horizon, and the design takes advantage of this topography by creating a seamless visual and spatial connection between indoor and outdoor areas. The project is anchored by a geometric structure whose spatial organization is informed by a single strong diagonal axis. This diagonal becomes the spine of the project — a conceptual and physical gesture that cuts through the plan and defines the composition of the main volumes. The diagonal is not merely a graphic or structural device; it organizes the project’s circulation and demarcates the separation and fluid transition between public and private zones. Most significantly, it opens the social areas — the living room, dining area, and kitchen — to a vast 12-meter span that creates a completely unobstructed view toward the ocean. This impressive cantilevered opening allows for panoramic visual access from nearly every part of the house’s social core, enhancing the indoor-outdoor living experience and maximizing natural light and ventilation.

natural textures in harmony with the terrain | all images by Alvaro Fonseca unless stated otherwise

 

 

qbO3 arquitectos wraps the house in tactile, natural materials

 

The design strategy avoids structural elements that would interrupt this view. Instead of relying on conventional column-and-beam arrangements, the house uses a combination of cantilevered roof planes and concealed supports, which allow the entire facade facing the ocean to remain visually clean and open. The result is a sophisticated blend of architectural rigor and lightness — a space that feels simultaneously grounded in its site and lifted toward the horizon.

 

Materiality plays a key role in reinforcing the dialogue between architecture and nature. Locally sourced stone, natural wood, and exposed concrete surfaces give the home a tactile quality that echoes the textures of the surrounding environment. The transition from interior to exterior is softened through shaded terraces, floating platforms, and water features that reflect the sky and the greenery around the site. The team at QBO3 Arquitectos has also composed the house as a sequence of experiences. Upon arrival, one is led along a carefully choreographed path that gradually reveals the views and spatial qualities of the home. The entrance, modest and quiet, opens into a dramatic open space where the diagonal geometry and the expansive opening to the landscape become immediately evident. Private areas such as bedrooms and service spaces are arranged along the perimeter, maintaining privacy while still enjoying framed views and natural cross-ventilation.

the diagonal that opens space and sight

 

 

Casa Yume is ultimately a study in balance — between geometry and landscape, structure and openness, privacy and connection. It offers a refined living experience while remaining deeply rooted in the principles of place, identity, and architectural clarity. Its bold yet sensitive design elevates it as a landmark project in the Papagayo Peninsula and a testament to how thoughtful design can resonate with its environment without compromise. 

modern design in the heart of nature | image by Tirso

 

 

architectural journey through light and shadow

clean lines, coastal breeze

17 meters of uninterrupted Pacific views | image by Tirso

geometry, light, and silence come together | image by Tirso

seamless indoor-outdoor living at Casa Yume

the proportion and scale and the play of double height generate a connection with the space | image by Tirso

designed for connection — inside and out

positioned on a sloped plot overlooking the horizon

passion for every detail of interior design

every detail crafted for calm and clarity | image by Tirso

 

 

project info:

 

name: Casa Yume
architect: QBO3 Arquitectos

interior designer: Sofiainteriorismo

location: Costa Rica

 

photographer: Mavix / Hugo Tirso Depth.Lens / Alvaro Fonseca

video producer: Mavix / Arquitectonica

 

 

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

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skin of solar panels takes shape as MVRDV’s sun rock tops out in taiwan

a Beacon of Solar Architecture for taiwan

 

MVRDV‘s solar panel-clad Sun Rock has topped out at the Changhua Coastal Industrial Park in Taiwan, revealing a presence that feels like both architecture and landscape. Designed for Taipower, the state-owned utility company, the operations storage facility is set to play a major role in Taiwan’s renewable energy transition, expressing its purpose through form and material. On site, the building appears to absorb sunlight from every angle, expressing its function through a geometry tailored for efficiency. The design for Sun Rock was first unveiled in January 2022 — see designboom’s previous coverage here.

 

The Sun Rock responds directly to its solar-rich context with a rounded, domed silhouette that shifts in profile from north to south. This gradient is intentional. MVRDV has sculpted the building to catch early and late light with its northern dome while the southern slope captures the more intense midday sun. This way, the structure stands as an instrument calibrated to its environment.

Sun Rock tops out in Taiwan to reveal its full solar-oriented form | images via MVRDV

 

 

Orientation as Strategy

 

The architects at MVRDV design Taiwan’s Sun Rock to feature a pleated facade, its geometry informed by the needs of solar collection. Each pleat serves as both a mounting surface for photovoltaic panels and a modulation of light and shadow. These pleats vary in angle, a subtle optimization that allows the panels to operate at peak efficiency throughout the day. Interwoven among them, windows are placed with discretion, maintaining internal function without compromising energy gain.

 

The structure is expected to generate close to one million kilowatt-hours of energy annually, enough to render it entirely self-sufficient. But the building’s ambition extends further. With additional PV coverage under consideration, it could reach an output of 1.7 million kWh per year, contributing excess energy to the grid and underlining the building’s identity as both infrastructure and resource.

the building supports Taipower’s green energy transition

 

 

sun rock shaped by A Pleated Surface

 

The Sun Rock will function as an active part of Taipower’s operations, with workshops, offices, and equipment storage. However, its expressive exterior elevates it into something symbolic. MVRDV co-founder Winy Maas elaborates: ‘We cladded the entire facade with photovoltaics… allowing the building to become a tool of energy production.’ The building is both a generator and a generator’s home, making visible the systems it supports.

 

Overall, it integrates over 4,000 square meters of photovoltaic panels into its curved facade, each one oriented with intention. This design, as MVRDV notes, is about pushing the potential of every surface. The result is an active skin, an architecture tuned to performance without sacrificing visual impact.

a rounded form is designed to maximize solar exposure throughout the day

its pleated facade is covered in photovoltaic panels angled for optimal energy generation

the structure is expected to produce nearly one million kilowatt-hours of energy annually

 

 

project info:

 

project title: Sun Rock

architecture: MVRDV | @mvrdv
location: Changhua County, Taiwan
founding partner in charge: Winy Maas
partner: Wenchian Shi
design team: Hui-Hsin Liao, Daniel Diez, Mirco Facchinelli, Carolina Martin Peñuela, Chi-yi Liao, Tseng-hsuan Wei
MVRDV next: Yayun Liu

client: Taipower 

images: courtesy MVRDV

 

co-architect: Y.C. Hsu Architect & Associates
contractor: Reiju Construction Co., Ltd.
structural engineer: Chih-hung Kao Structural Engineer & Associates
MEP: Chia Feng Mechanical & Electrical Corp.

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corten steel angular cabin emerges amongst pergamon forests in turkey

Ediz Demirel Works. builds small cabin along dry stone wall

 

Located in the Kozak Plateau near Pergamon in Turkey, the Cabin in Woods by Ediz Demirel Works. is a small-scale structure intended for short-term rental. The project, resting on the existing dry stone terrace walls of an old vineyard, is designed to minimize disturbance to the surrounding landscape while establishing a defined architectural presence through its contrasting materials and construction techniques.

 

The architectural form is defined by a prefabricated steel frame and corten steel cladding, which distinctly contrasts the natural terrain and stone foundation. A horizontal opening in the metal shell provides panoramic views, establishing a deliberate visual relationship with the surrounding plateau. Additional facade apertures are articulated as angular projections, emphasizing the spatial boundary between interior and exterior. The base of the cabin utilizes a reinforced dry stone wall, integrated with the irregular existing stone conditions of the site. Reinforced concrete is poured in situ to stabilize this foundation. The superstructure, consisting of prefabricated steel elements and corten panels, is assembled on-site. This separation of ground and enclosure, stone and steel, produces a layered tectonic reading.

all images courtesy of Ediz Demirel Works.

 

 

Cabin in Woods project explores themes of material contrast

 

The structure is organized around a sunken central space, designed as a conversation pit, embedded into the topography. This recessed core functions as the primary gathering area and is surrounded by auxiliary spaces, including wet zones and service areas. These are attached as linear extensions from the central core. A mezzanine level within the enclosing shell accommodates sleeping and work functions, optimizing the compact interior volume.

 

The structure’s identity is derived from the juxtaposition of two distinct architectural strategies: a grounded, topography-integrated foundation and a visually distinct, prefabricated shell. Cabin in Woods project, developed by

Ediz Demirel Works.’ architectural team, explores themes of material contrast, contextual adaptation, and modular construction, positioning the cabin within the broader discourse of contemporary rural architecture.

Cabin in Woods is set within the Kozak Plateau near Pergamon, Turkey

the cabin rests on historic dry stone terrace walls of an old vineyard

prefabricated steel framing defines the cabin’s architectural language

angular facade apertures articulate the boundary between inside and out

the steel and corten superstructure was prefabricated off-site and assembled on location

corten steel cladding creates contrast against the natural stone foundation

reinforced dry stone foundations integrate with the site’s existing terrain

stone below and steel above create a clear material separation

the form engages both with the land and the larger rural context

the interior layout maximizes function within a compact footprint

 

project info:

 

name: Cabin in Woods
architect: Ediz Demirel Works. | @edizdemirel.works

location: İzmir, Turkey

collaborator: Tuna Ökten

 

 

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

The post corten steel angular cabin emerges amongst pergamon forests in turkey appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

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timber twist by ulf mejergren reimagines larvae shelter as spiraling log cabin

Ulf Mejergren and Travis Child reference larval structures

 

Timber Twist is a work created for Virserum Konsthall Art Museum in Sweden by Ulf Mejergren Architects (UMA) and Esperöd Art Team’s Travis Child, invited as part of the Träkraft (Wood Power) exhibition. Its inspiration comes from the Bagworm moth, whose larvae build protective cases from twigs, moss, and gravel, woven with silk into camouflaged shelters. When mature, the larva fastens its case to a branch and pupates. Only the male emerges with wings; the female remains in the case for life, lays eggs, and dies. These tiny architects build remarkable homes, yet lead restricted lives—a paradox that invites reflection on the shells we build: not just walls and roofs, but the mental, emotional, and societal frameworks formed early in life. ‘These structures offer safety and identity, but can also limit us. Around us lies a vast world, physical and metaphorical, we may never fully explore unless we question our own shells’, shares UMA’s team. This became the foundation of Timber Twist: a human-scale tribute and gentle provocation, inspired by the Bagworm.

all images courtesy of Ulf Mejergren Architects (UMA)

 

 

Aspen logs in spiraling formation shape Timber Twist cabin

 

Seeking to echo the larva’s subtlety and craft, the creative team of Ulf Mejergren Architects (UMA) and Esperöd Art Team’s Travis Child turned to traditional timber techniques. Aspen logs were joined using wooden dowels, with no metal, honoring a craft of invisible strength and quiet precision. Timber Twist reimagines the log cabin. Instead of a rectangle, it takes on a triangular form where each layer rotates slightly, forming a spiraling shape. The round entrance, chisel-carved to resemble tooth marks, is a quiet homage to the beaver, another skilled woodworker fond of aspen’s soft grain. Inside, visitors can sit and look upward into a vortex of timber and time. The space invites contemplation of the homes we build, and the deeper idea of home itself: how it grounds and protects us, but might also quietly confine us. Timber Twist offers a pause and a possibility to imagine other ways of being.

Timber Twist is installed at Virserum Konsthall for the Träkraft exhibition

inspired by the Bagworm moth’s camouflaged larval shelters

Timber Twist is constructed entirely from aspen logs and wooden dowels

visitors are invited to sit and contemplate the layered construction

each timber layer is rotated slightly to create a continuous twist

entrance is carved to resemble beaver tooth marks in soft aspen

spiral geometry replaces the traditional rectangular log cabin form

the design references silent precision and subtlety found in nature

Timber Twist invites pause and reflection within a spiraled space

diagram of Timber Twist

 

 

project info:

 

name: Timber Twist
architects: Ulf Mejergren Architects (UMA)@ulfmejergrenarchitects, Travis Child – Esperöd Art Team

location: Virserum, Sweden

 

 

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

The post timber twist by ulf mejergren reimagines larvae shelter as spiraling log cabin appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.